Bed-Stuy Victims Of Housing Scheme Can Stay In Their Home: BP

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A Bed-Stuy man who was the victim of a housing scheme has reached a deal to stay in his Halsey Street home of 30 years, according to his lawyers and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Dairus Griffiths reached a confidential settlement with August West Development, who he says had him unknowingly sign over the property after saying they could help him with mortgage payments in 2014, according to reports from the time.

The settlement, which closed in late July, will allow Griffiths to regain ownership of his home, his lawyers announced.

It comes two years after the borough president connected the Griffiths with a legal team, who worked pro bono to stave off their eviction and fight the development company in court.

“This hard-fought victory should be celebrated, but the larger crises of deed fraud and wrongful property seizures, particularly in Black and Brown areas of Brooklyn, demand real policy solutions," Adams said about the news. "No other homeowner should have to endure what the Griffiths went through to get their home back."

Griffiths, whose story was uncovered in a Daily News article, says someone with August West Development approached him in 2014 and told him they could help him with his mortgage payments. He signed paperwork that he believed would help him stay in his home, but the development company claimed he signed a contract to sell the house, according to the report.

The developers ultimately sued the family after Griffiths denied signing the contract. A judge ruled against the family, who didn't show up to court because they hadn't been notified about the lawsuit, according to the outlet.

Lawyers with Sher Tremonte LLP were able to obtain a stay of eviction while Griffiths appealed the judge's ruling, the attorneys said.

Adams has said a full-scale audit and investigation into the root causes of the housing schemes, more aggressive prosecution of individual cases, and tougher state laws are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.